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Author
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Topic: ZB Pedal Steel Guitars - Please help!
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Larry Behm
Member From: Oregon City, Oregon
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posted 02 April 2005 11:08 AM
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Gosh I just realized that this is the 600th post, I also did the 400th I think.
Larry Behm
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Dave Zirbel
Member From: Sebastopol, CA USA
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posted 02 April 2005 01:00 PM
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...and you don't even own a ZB.   |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 02 April 2005 03:23 PM
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Larry, that green guitar above was originally ordered for a D-11 and was turned into a D-10 at the last minute. Yes, the body is bigger than the standard D-10 body. Very interesting. The sound is typical ZB Custom fabulous. Its had the knee levers replaced/repositioned with new polished aluminum adjustables. |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
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posted 02 April 2005 04:17 PM
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No Russ, I haven't given up on a S-11. I received several possibe offers, but none appears to be "the one". I can afford to take my time on account of I already have a great ZB. Also, I have to sell my Marlen in order to afford the S-11 and I'm having a hard time letting that one go.
I'll say it again, Kevin, that is one pretty piece of wood and confounding mechanics. Just looking at it sounds good.
Happy 600th post and thanks to Larry for starting this insanity. And Larry,I didn't think about the boots being strange being that I play a lot in flip-flops here in Florida.
Duncan[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 02 April 2005 at 04:18 PM.] |
Larry Behm
Member From: Oregon City, Oregon
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posted 02 April 2005 05:15 PM
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I started on a single, after about 1 year I got a double. I was at a Reece Anderson seminar in Spokane area. I told someone I was looking for a Blue D-10, the guy told me to come to Eugene Oregon he had just the one I needed and it was for sale.It had a Day setup, but I was so eagar to play it I just crossed the rods for the first night or two. I really love the look of the ZB's, they emit an attitude just sitting there. Larry Behm |
Paul Honeycutt
Member From: Colorado, USA
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posted 02 April 2005 10:32 PM
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I think I still have a couple of pictures of Richard Sinkler playing his ZB back in the '70's. If I can find them I'll scan them and try to post. It was a great sounding guitar. I have a reel to reel tape of or duo from then, too. |
Ron Steenwijk
Member From: Greensburg,PA
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posted 07 April 2005 05:27 AM
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Anybody seen this one?It's a price that I like.Maybe there is a ZB lover on the forum stationed in Europe that like's to buy it. http://cgi.ebay.nl/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=324&item=5571554563&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW#ebayphotohosting Ron |
Ben Elder
Member From: La Crescenta, California, USA
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posted 07 April 2005 02:20 PM
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LA-area steelers and the Southland ZB Curious: over in Events and Announcements, in the 33rd post (4/7) regarding LA Jam 4/3, I've floated out a dreamy idea regarding my ZB D-10, a guitar that's too big an obstacle for a beginner, but too much of a treasure to sell. For what it's worth... |
Russ Tkac
Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA
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posted 11 April 2005 11:21 AM
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I thought you might like to see a better picture of my D11/10Russ  |
Pat Kelly
Member From: Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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posted 11 April 2005 01:27 PM
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Very nice Ross. Got the extra pedal on the E9 as well. I think you got this one at a good price. Was the description on E-Bay accurate? They say it packed at about 50lb; mine shipped in the case at 79lb and it sure feels like that when lugging it around. I'm gonna have to put castors on the case.All the best Pat K
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Russ Tkac
Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA
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posted 11 April 2005 01:36 PM
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Pat,It shipped at 81lbs so the fifty was a bit low. This guitar sounds great! I need to have a setup done but the tone is great. All the best,
Russ |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
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posted 11 April 2005 05:00 PM
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Pretty, pretty and beautiful, Russ.
Duncan |
tom anderson
Member From: leawood, ks., usa
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posted 11 April 2005 08:55 PM
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Could someone please e-mail me some pictures of the underside of your ZB, particularly focusing on the knee levers, especially if you have an older model with original parts. If my e-mail is full, please try again a little later-I am always deleting junk. Thanks |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 11 April 2005 11:14 PM
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I wanted to talk a little about the fourth and eigth strings not returning to dead "0" on ZB's. There are a couple of primary reasons for this. One is lubrication at the roller nut. Also, sometimes just loosening the fourth or eighth string and turning the roller will free up the roller. The other is lowering return springs either tightened too tight or too loose. The method that I use for adjusting the four and eight string return springs is this. I first tune strings four and five open on the tuning meter dead "0" and make sure that there are no audible beats when they are played open. I then make sure that the E's lowered on both four and eight are tempered down at least minus ten with the lowering knee lever. Again I check for no audible beats with the knee lever engaged and hiting strings four and five. I then go to the tenth fret and engage the E lower knee lever and slide to the third fret and release the knee lever. If I hear any audible beats I check strings four and five on the meter again and see if five has moved from zero or four has returned sharp or flat. I find that checking strings four and five between the first and third frets reveals beats very clearly. 90% of the ZB's that I've checked have their E's returning sharp and need to have the return spring adjusted back a number of turns to have the E's return to dead zero. I just went through this on a friends guitar and a new one that was just built.
Another reason for non accurate return could be a binding changer cap. Greg Jones and I just went through this on a new build and it threw us for about a half an hour until we changed the roller cap. The old cap was probably machined too big and was binding. Another reason for non accurate return could be binding underneath the guitar. Check the four and eighth rods for any binding right up tp the changer. Also keeping ZB's lubricated is very important. I have a new build that was just adjusted out and I learned alot. Again, check your E lowers. I think that alot of ZB's were given up by people because they were'nt adjusted properly. When they are, they are dead accurate and play like a dream. I hope this helps.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 11 April 2005 at 11:15 PM.] [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 11 April 2005 at 11:16 PM.] |
Lyle Clary
Member From: Decatur, Illinois, USA
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posted 12 April 2005 10:05 AM
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Beautiful steel Russ. Also the fence around your deck has given me an idea about finishing my new deck. I mean my wife calls it a front porch. |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 12 April 2005 03:44 PM
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Thanks, Russ, for posting the pic. Beautiful!And thanks, Kevin, for the roller nut tip, too. We'd all love to see pictures of your restorations once Greg is done with 'em! By the way, owning more than one ZB is A-OK by me! All ZBest as always,
Larry |
Ben Elder
Member From: La Crescenta, California, USA
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posted 16 April 2005 05:27 PM
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Tom Anderson---Re: "Could someone please e-mail me some pictures of the underside of your ZB...If my e-mail is full, please try again a little later-I am always deleting junk. ..."
----------------------------------4/16: Your email is full again. In the meantime, here are some links to pics of my ZBeast* I took for you. Anyone else want to look and comment (anyone see anything weirder here than ZBs are anyway?), enjoy:
http://home.earthlink.net/~wardrobewitch/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/zb182.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~wardrobewitch/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/zb183.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~wardrobewitch/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/zb184.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~wardrobewitch/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/zb185.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~wardrobewitch/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/zb186.jpg *--D-10 8+3 s/n 0131 fwiw... |
Lyle Clary
Member From: Decatur, Illinois, USA
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posted 19 April 2005 09:48 AM
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Played an early ZB D10 set up like mine at the Southern Illinois Steel Guitar Conference at Benton Illinois over the weekend. A first generation with wonderful tone and mechanics. A fellow from south-east
Tennesee owns it anbd he knows who he is. |
Pat Kelly
Member From: Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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posted 24 April 2005 02:32 AM
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I asked once before on this thread but no one seemed interested. Try one last time. Has any one any other ideas on the 11th string on the D11. The e seems too far from the D to make any contribution melodically. Does anyone use any changes on this string, Does anyone infact play this instrument set up for 11 strings. Any other comments. |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 24 April 2005 06:27 AM
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Pat, my 11/10 is in the shop right now and I haven't had it long enough to really get into the 11th string that much. I've had it at E for lack of anything else, but I am wondering how it would work to tune it to something in conjunction with using the D lever? It would make playing swing on the E9 neck more feasible if you had a lower string. I hadn't thought about this before. I'm anxious to get it back to try it. |
Russ Tkac
Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA
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posted 24 April 2005 06:52 PM
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How old is your D11/10? The one I bought is from around 1980. It needs some work but sounds great!Russ |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 24 April 2005 07:50 PM
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Mine is serial 0008, which is one of the first Bakersfields assemblies. The parts were made by Zane and the fretboards have his signature, but from what I understand, it was assembled in BField. |
Russ Tkac
Member From: Waterford, Michigan, USA
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posted 25 April 2005 05:49 PM
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Webb,Where is Berwick, PA? I was born in McKeesport near Pittsburg. 1968, pretty great! Who's working on it? Russ |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 25 April 2005 07:42 PM
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Russ, Berwick is about 30 miles South of Wilkes-Barre, 75 mi. N. of Harrisburg. It has a short in the switches. I took it up to my engineer buddy's to have him go over the wiring. I got this guitar from a guy last Nov. who said it sat in his garage for about 15 years. It looked so bad when I got it that I almost didn't take it. The guy told me to take it home for a while and see if it was worth cleaning up. I looked at it for about 3 days before I even had the guts to try cleaning it up. Once I started on it, I didn't stop for about 2 months. It's all original and a real beaut. You can see some checking on the back side, but other than that, it shines like a new one. I put strings on it, tuned it up, barely adjusted the A pedal, and it was ready to play. I couldn't believe it would ever play that well without completely overhauling it. The 8th pedal isn't hooked up and some of the other C6 pedals are not set up to my liking, and it doesn't have an F pedal. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. It sounds phenomenal, but of course it weighs a ton. My back is shot and I may just get the copedent set up and sell it so I can buy a universal. Even my D10 GFI does a number on my back anymore. But then I sit down and play the ol' ZB and think....Wow! I got the Zeebee Geebees!!  |
Pat Kelly
Member From: Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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posted 26 April 2005 01:59 AM
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I'm thinking another G# or G with a raise. A with a lower? Any other thoughts?
Pat |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 26 April 2005 06:56 AM
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Pat, I tried the G#, but it seemed to have the samee effect as when you have a harmonic 3rd on the bottom of a guitar chord-it works once in a while, but is in the way most of the time. Doesn't anyone know what Zane had in mind with the 11th? |
Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 26 April 2005 07:20 AM
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I may be wrong, but I always thought the 11th string was a low E so's Tom B could match Don R's low Tele note's for comping....Greg? |
Webb Kline
Member From: Bloomsburg, PA
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posted 26 April 2005 08:09 AM
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That's the only thing that has worked for me so far. It's a big drop, but it works. |
B. Greg Jones
Member From: London, KY USA
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posted 26 April 2005 09:11 PM
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Dave, you just nailed it. It came to be so Tom could do the filles on "Act Naturally" when Don sang the harmony parts. My 11-stringers are all tuned to the low E.Greg |
Dave Van Allen
Member From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
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posted 27 April 2005 07:34 AM
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Andrew Buhler
Member From: Maryland, USA
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posted 27 April 2005 08:05 AM
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I have a question regarding half-stops on ZBs. I have a SD-10 refurbed by Billy Knowles--previously owned by the one and only Duncan Hodge. My 2nd string D# currently lowers a half step to D. The guitar is set up so I lower the 2nd string a half step and raise the 7th string F# a half step. If I increase the travel on the 2nd string will the yoke system allow for a half-stop feel once the 7th string tuning nut hits the endplate? How do you all set up your 2nd string lower? The guitar is set up so nicely now that I never tinker with the turnbuckles, but it would be nice to have that full step lower on the second string. Much appreciated. |
Chuck McGill
Member From: Jackson, Tn
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posted 27 April 2005 12:10 PM
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I have the parts for the 12 string Andrew. Greg sent me enough pull rods to get going and
they look great. Looking forward to getting the 12 you found playing. |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
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posted 27 April 2005 07:13 PM
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Damn Andrew!
I wish it was me worrying about the same drop on the 2nd. I still kick myself for ever letting it go. Hope to see you at Derby Day in Croom, but I won't be bringing the ZB. This year it is cheaper to fly than drive.
Duncan |
Chris Rohde
Member From: Portland, ME, USA
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posted 28 April 2005 05:32 AM
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Hello - I just bought a D10 ZB - any reccommendations on string gauges for both necks? Thanks |
richard burton
Member From: Britain
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posted 28 April 2005 12:18 PM
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Andrew,
The yoke system favours
the easiest pull first.
To do what you want
you would have to
play around with helper
springs, and IMO it would
be very difficult to get
the seventh string half-
tone raise exactly at the
same time as the second
string is a half-tone
lower.
I put bell cranks on for
this duty, but instead of
raising the seventh, I
lower the ninth, and use
that action as my half-stop.
R B
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richard burton
Member From: Britain
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posted 28 April 2005 12:22 PM
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PS Folks,
This seems the easiest
way to write a post, it saves
scrolling along to read them.
Just write four or five
words and press return.
R B |
Larry Chung
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 28 April 2005 02:25 PM
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Hey Chris:Welcome to D-10 ZB-Land! I'd recommend one thing in particular - use a .016 instead of a .017 on the E9 neck (high B to C#). Helps immensely with the A and C pedals. ZBest,
LC |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
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posted 28 April 2005 04:57 PM
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Welcome Chris. Congratulations on getting the ZB. If I ever offer you advice, don't listen. I'm probably the worst ZB player on this post.
Duncan |
Duncan Hodge
Member From: DeLand, FL USA
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posted 28 April 2005 05:23 PM
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Welcome Chris. Congratulations on getting the ZB. If I ever offer you advice, don't listen. I'm probably the worst ZB player on this post.
I also may be the worst poster on this post as evidenced by my duplication of my last post.
Duncan[This message was edited by Duncan Hodge on 28 April 2005 at 05:24 PM.] |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 28 April 2005 08:31 PM
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If you change string gauges you may have to re-equalize the turnbuckle for that particular string. I went through this when I went to an .0115 on the third string. I don't break third strings anymore. |
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